Portable, adjustable soap rack and tray



Amid 37,1945.- L. LEVY PORTABLE, ADJUSTABLE SOAP RACK AND TRAY Filed Aug. 28. 1945 mvsmoa Lcorael Lew ATTORNEY} Patented Apr. 17, 1945 p. ron'rABLE, ADJUSTABLESOAP RACK AND a TRAY Lionel Levy, Forest Hills, N. Y.

A Application August 28,

1943, Serial No. 500 M- 2 Claims. 01. 45-28) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an adjustable soap rack and. tray.

More specifically, the invention proposes the construction of an adjustable soap rack, preferably entirely constructed of plastic material, but which may be constructed of wood; glass, metal or any desired combination of these metals, and which is adjustable in a manner to support cakes of soap of different sizes and shapes to permit air to circulate completely aroundthe'outer surface of the soap to cause it to rapidly dry and prevent the formation ofsoap jelly, greatly increasing the life of a cake of soap while at the same time maintaining the soap in a more sanitary condition and morepleasant to use.

Still further it is proposedto characterize the soap tray. by a pair of end supports having telescopic rods extended therebetween in a manner tobe adjustable to receive cakes of soap of different sizes and providing a small rounded surface upon which the soap is adapted to rest with a minimum of contact between the adjacent faces of the telescopic members and cake of soap.

A further object of the invention proposes providing the end supports with downwardly extended cutouts which project beyond the bottom of the telescopic rods in a manner to permit air to enter the space between the end supports below the bottom edge of a cake of soap when rested on the rod, providing cross ventilation beneath the cake of soap. 1

Another object of this invention proposes the provision of a novel means for latching the telescopic rods in desired extended positions permitting the rack to be fixedly adjusted to accommodate a cake of soap of a given size.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure- Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a portion of a bathroom illustrating an adjustable soap rack, constructed in accordance with this invention, in position upon a portion of the bath tub.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the soap rack, Per se.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a partial vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a modification of the invention.

Fig.7 is a verticalsectional view taken sub stantially on the line l-'I of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a partial vertical sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. 6. I I I The portable adjustable soap rack and tray, according to this invention, comprises a' rack H) which is adapted to be rested on the edge of a bath tub II in a bathroom 12. The illustration in Fig. 1 is merely by way of example, as the tray may also be rested on a portion of a hand sink, a kitchen sink, in a soap dish attached to a wall, or directly in a soap dish built into the wall of a bathroom, kitchen, laundry, or other place.

The rack l0 isv characterized by a pair of end supports [3 constructed to have cutouts l4 extended downwards from their top edges. The

end supports I3 are of oval or slightly rounded shape so as to be capable of resting on a flat surface or of being. inserted into a soap dish having a curved bottom.

A plurality of telescopic rods l5 are extended between the end supports l3. These telescopic rods comprise solid rods 16 extended from onev of the end supports l3 and slidably engaging tubular rods l1 projecting from the other of the end. supports l3. The solid rods l6 and tubular rods I! are slidably engaged with each other permitting the rack If! to be extended to accommodate cakes of soap of different sizes and shapes and when used as a tray it will fit in any size soap dish.

The soap rack is preferably constructed of. '7

plastic material with the rods It and I1 being integrally formed with their respective'end supports [3. However, the soap rack may also be formed of wood, glass, metal or any desired combination of these materials and may be painted or colored to harmonize with existing patterns of bathrooms, kitchens, etc.

In Fig. 5 the bottom edge of a cake of soap resting on the-soap rack is indicated by the dot and dash line AB. I It will be noted that the rounded configuration of the telescopic rods I5 provide a minimum of contacting surface between the rack andcake of soap permitting the bottom tobe completely dried. Furthermore, the bottom ends ofthe cutouts l4 extend below the bottom edge of the cake of soap, indicated by the dot and dash line AB, providing a free cross ventilation beneath the cake of soap, further insuring complete drying thereof.

In Figs. 6-8 a modification of the invention is illustrated in which a means is provided'for locking the telescopic rods in a selected extended position. I

In this form of the invention one of the solid rods I6 is of slightly oval shape-and is provided on its top and bottom surfaces with serrations 20. Its respective tubular rod [1' is also of oval shape and is rotatively connected with its respective end support l3 by reason of having a reduced shank portion 2| rotatively extended through .a complementary opening 'formed in its respective end support. The rotative supporting of the tubular rod 11' permits this rod to be rotated relative to the solid rod 16' intoa position in which the length of the .oval configuration of the tubular rod l'l' will be at right angles to the oval configuration of the solid trod I67. In this position the sides of the tubular rodl'l' will rigidly grip the serrations 20 onvthesolid 10d [6' and lock the tubular rods I5 against being extended. To free the tubular rods to be extended it is*merelynecessary-to rotate the tubularrod Il back to -'itsstarting position. In other respects this form 0f the invention is similar to that previously shown and like reference numerals'identify like partsin each ofqthe several views.

While I have illustrated and described theipreferred embodimentsof my invention, "it ,is-to be understoodthat I do notlimit myself to themecise constructions herein' disclosed and the right is-reserved to all changes and modifications coming avithin the :scqpe of the invention: as defined in the appended claims.

:Having "thus described -.my invention, what I claim 'as :new and desire .to secure :by :United States. Letters Patent is:

l. :A soap :rack and trayxhaving tend supports with telescopic rods extendedbetween saidsupports, means for locking one of said telescopic rods in a fixed extended position for holding said soap rack in a desired adjusted position, said telescopic support comprising a solid section fixedly attached to one of said end supports and a tubular section slidably engaging said solid section and rotatively connected with the other of said end supports, said solid section being oval in cross-section and said tubular section being oval in cross-section and beingzadapted'to be turned to a position in which its greatest dimension is at right angles to the greatest dimension of said solid section to frictionally grip said solid section and prevent extension of said rods forming said Tzloeking means.

2. Asoapvrack and tray having end supports with telescopic rods extended between said supports, means -for locking one of said telescopic rods in a fixed extended position for holding said soap rack in a desired adjusted position, said telescopic support comprising a solidsection fixedly attached itotone of said end supports and a tubular .section slidably engaging said solid sectionvandrotatively connected with the other of said end supports, said solid vsection being oval in cross-.sectionand said tubular section being oval in :cross-section andbeing adapted'to be vturnedesothat its :greatest dimension is at right angles .to the greatest dimension of said solid section to zfrictionally ggrip said solid section and prevent extension of isaidzrods forming: said lock ingmeans,andsserrations on'oppositesides of said solid section at .theien'dscof its greatestzcross-sectional-dimension for gripping ithe inside walls of said tubular section .for'assisting'. in the frictional grippingsofssaid sections.

i LIONEL LEVY. 

